MORE patients have died at Herefordshire's hospitals after testing positive for coronavirus, the latest NHS figures show.

NHS data showed 19 people died in May at the Wye Valley NHS Trust, which runs Hereford County Hospital, after testing positive for Covid-19.

That was the same as April, but up from nine in March, 11 in February, and four in January.

The latest figures, which cover to 4pm on June 9, show another two patients had died with Covid this month.

That means a total of 339 patients had died at Wye Valley NHS Trust hospitals after testing positive for Covid-19.

But the toll recently is far below previous months.

In December 2020, 28 deaths were reported, followed by 82 in January, 34 in February and five in March.

Over recent months, the trust has been dealing with a rise in coronavirus cases on its wards and in the community and visiting was, for a time, suspended in most, but not all, circumstances.

The managing director of Herefordshire's NHS has said Covid has been a "perfect storm" a few months ago and has "wreaked havoc".

Jane Ives, managing director of the Wye Valley NHS Trust, which runs Hereford County Hospital, said staffing numbers and patient pathways were being badly affected.

In a report for April's trust board meeting, she said the overall picture was "a very challenging one".

Wye Valley NHS Trust was caring for 10 coronavirus patients in hospital as of Tuesday, figures show.

NHS England data shows the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 by 8am on June 7 was up from seven on the same day the previous week.

The number of beds at Wye Valley NHS Trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 decreased by 41 per cent in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 17.

The figures also show that 15 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in Wye Valley NHS Trust in the week to June 5. This was down from 17 in the previous seven days.